Somali President, Hassan Sheikh, on Sunday announced that Somalia walked out of talks with Ethiopia. The president made these remarks in a televised speech. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia will not discuss sea access until Ethiopia affirms Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He alleged that Ethiopia “refused to recognize that Somalia is an independent neighboring country”, adding this was the reason Ankara talks collapsed. He further said,” no trade, no sea access, no talks with Ethiopia until Ethiopia respects Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Somalia and Ethiopia have held two round of talks under the auspices of Turkiye in Ankara in the last 2 months. The latest round of talks was concluded last week. It was attended by foreign ministers from the two sides. The two foreign ministers and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced, at the end of the 2nd round, that progress had been made and the two parties will again meet on September 17.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh’s remarks indicate that either no significance progress was made during the talks or he wants to put pressure on Ethiopia to make Ethiopia withdraw from controversial Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland in January this year.
Unprecedented tensions rose between Ethiopia and Somalia earlier this year when landlocked Ethiopia signed an MoU with Somaliland. Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia. But it has been operating as a separate entity, trying to get international recognition. The MoU, if implemented, would give Ethiopia access to sea through Somaliland in return of Ethiopia recognizing Somaliland as a country. Somalia calls this MoU a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It remains to be seen if Somalia would attend the 3rd round of talks in September or not. Ethiopia did not immediately respond to the remarks of Somali President. Ethiopia FM Spokesperson Nebiyu Tedla recently said that Ethiopia is “committed to advance its legal and peaceful quest to access to sea.”
Addressing domestic affairs, Hassan Sheikh insisted that businesses should pay the 5% VAT imposed by the government. On Sunday, businesses went on strike on Mogadishu over 5% tax imposed by the government. He also said the government will go ahead in efforts to prepare popular elections in the country. Recently the President Hassan Sheikh government introduced one person one vote electoral system which is being opposed by Puntland federal member state which has withdrawn its recognition of federal government of Somalia.